Ruth Marie Salerno, a native of Metropolis, died peacefully at home in Battle Creek, Mich., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014.

Ruth was born on March 8, 1924, in Karnak, the daughter of Amanda Rose (Hinners) and Arnold Mescher.

After high school, Ruth took a business course and moved with her family to Battle Creek.

She worked from 1941-42 at the BC Sanitarium with correspondence and statistics in the new advertising department headed by Ruth Kelsey, then at Western Union — where she was so fast on the Teletype that the printer broke.

Ruth married Anthony Salerno on May 18, 1944 in Roswell, N.M. Within a 20-year span, they had eight children. Ruth worked as a homemaker and later at the Federal Center. She also completed a nurse’s aide course at the local community college.

She was active in St. Philip Catholic Church, including years of Perpetual Adoration.

She is survived by her sister-in-law, Ruth Hilliard Mescher; and by her eight children: Douglas (Rhonda) Salerno of St. Joseph, Mich.; Dianna (Dale) Dummer of Lansing; David Salerno of Battle Creek; Daniel Salerno of Kalamazoo; Dorothy (Charles) Evans of Longwood, Fla.; Dominic (Penny) Salerno of Portage; Donna (Larry) Ebbs of Naples, Fla.; and Deborah (Barry) Salerno of Ann Arbor.

She is also survived by many special nieces and nephews, book club members and close friends.

Ruth was preceded in death by her spouse, Anthony; two brothers, Paul (Marguerite) Mescher and Carl Mescher.

Visitation will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday in the vestibule of St. Philip Church followed by recitation of the Rosary at 4 p.m. Another visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Monday in the Parish Center, prior to the Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Philip Church. A luncheon will follow at the Parish Center. Family and friends are all welcome.

A committal ceremony will take place at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Mich. Cremation has taken place.

Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Preschool or St. Joseph Elementary School, 63 N. 24th St., Battle Creek, MI 49015-1733; an elementary school of the donor’s choice; or a donation to benefit children 12 years or younger.

Personal messages for the family may be placed at http://avinkcremation.com/book-of-memories/1788127/Salerno-Ruth/obituary.php